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Dubai’s countryside to get overhaul to boost tourism: Dubai Crown Prince Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum approved an AED 390 mn plan to develop Dubai’s rural areas and countryside over the next four years, with some 37 projects slated for completion by 2028, he said on X. The plan aims to boost the number of tourists visiting Dubai’s countryside to over 3 mn by 2040, up from 500k currently.
The details: The plan includes five recreational facilities and 79 km of cyclic tracks, and a 100km scenic route — known as Saih Al Salam — aimed at boosting desert tourism, state news agency Wam reports. The five stations will each feature various activities, including:
- A traditional market to sell local products;
- An open-air cinema;
- Hot air balloons near the Flamingo Lake along with kayak tours;
- An adventure park that includes hiking trails;
- An entertainment theater and majlis at the camel farm.
The plan will also see these areas get more services, including nurseries, parks, and healthcare facilities, to cater to residents and visitors, according to Wam.
OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS-
The Follow-Up Committee of the Initiatives of the UAE President gave the green light for several dam and water canal developments across the UAE, Wam reports. The projects — scheduled for completion within 19 months — include building nine new dams, expanding two existing ones, and creating several embankment barriers, boosting storage capacity to 8 mn cubic meters. The plans also include building nine water canals to eliminate damage caused by rainfall in residential areas.
The developments aim to improve climate change adaptability and boost water reserves through rainwater and floodwaters. The infrastructure projects will take place in 13 residential areas across Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah.
